



FAIR MOV NT 




H O M 



SOME HISTORIC FACTS 
AND ASSOCIATIONS OF 

FAIRMOUNT PARK 






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ROSS and JOHNSON 

PHILADELPHIA 
1905 

COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY J. ANDERSON ROSS 



Two Copies rteiaaveu 

JUL 7 190$ 

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COPY B. 









For the historic facts and associations, the writer 
of this sketch is indebted to : 

KEYSER'S FAIRMOUNT PARK 

and 

WESCOTT'S HISTORIC MANSIONS 
OF PHILADELPHIA 

also to the 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA 

for the use of the newspaper cuttings 
on Fairmount Park 

For designs of residences pages 24 and 35 credit 

is due to 

C. E. SCHERMERHORN, Architect 

F. W. 







The Solitude 



Historic Associations 



*T* HE historic associations of Fairmount 

* ) Park endear it to every patriotic heart. 

agMal Few of us realize, perhaps, how much 

pleasure we owe to these associations, 

or how much we are surrounded and influenced 

by them in Philadelphia, or in Fairmount Park, 

which is one of the most attractive pleasure 

grounds in the United States. 



. When William Penn beheld the rocky summit 
covered with primeval forests on the east bank 
of the Schuylkill River he called it 3faire=mount, 
thus it is here, perhaps, that our earliest as- 
sociations with the Park begin. The Founder 
of Pennsylvania thought this goodly sight 
would be an ideal place for residence, and with 
the intention of having a suburban mansion 
here at some time in the future he directed that 
the most beautiful wild flowers of the woods 
should be transplanted to these grounds, and 
sent a skilful gardener from France to enrich 
the hill north of Faire-mount by the culture 
of foreign grapes. 

The grapes did not adapt themselves to the 
new soil, the mansion was not erected and "Old 
Vineyard Hill" was all that remained to tell us 
of the scheme. 

Robert Morris — the financial patriot of the 
Revolution — seeking a country home, purchased 
in 1770 a tract of land containing over eighty 
acres, including Old Vineyard Hill, lying on the 
east bank of the Schuylkill River, north of 



Faire-mount. He gave it the name of "The 
Hills," and erected a mansion on the ground 
which was known as the "Hills House." 

This was his favorite place of residence and 
during his days of prosperity he exercised 
unbounded hospitality within its walls. He 
entertained the eminent men of the day, Wash- 
ington, Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson being 
among his guests. 

Throughout the most stirring times in our 
country's history he found "The Hills" a 
haven of rest, a place in which he could lay 
aside the cares of the country's finances and feel 
released from the responsibilities of citizenship. 

In a letter written in 1776 he says, "I have 
always been satisfied with Philadelphia and 'The 
Hills' — I dine at 'The Hills' to day and have 
done so every Sunday, thus you see I continue 
my old practice of mixing business with pleasure. 
I have ever found them useful to each other." 

When Mr. Morris was overwhelmed with 
financial ruin, the sheriff sold "The Hills" in 
1 799 in two parcels. The southern portion was 




Lemon Hill 



bought by Mr. Henry Pratt, a shipping mer- 
chant, who gave it the name of %cmo\\ 1bUL 
The northern portion, known as SebQeiev, 
was purchased by Mr. William Crammond. 

Mr. Pratt tore down the Morris mansion 
about 1800 and erected the house which now 
stands on Lemon Hill. 

His attractive gardens, rare flowers, and the 
novelty of the fish pond made Lemon Hill seem 
a little nearer Paradise than any other place in 
the neighborhood of Philadelphia. 



After Mr. Pratt's death, the land was bought 
by the Bank of the United States. When the 
Bank became insolvent the City of Philadelphia 
purchased the property of fifty-two acres, ex- 
clusive of roads, for seventy-five thousand 
dollars. The purchase was made in 1844 and it 
was not until 1855 that. the estate was put to any 
special use, at which time it was dedicated as a 
public park and presented to the citizens of 
Philadelphia as a place where they, too, might 
find rest and recreation, as did Robert Morris 
and his eminent compatriots. 

Sedgeley, the portion of Mr. Morris's estate 
purchased by Mr. Crammond, was acquired by 
contributions of the citizens of Philadelphia, 
and presented to the City as a public park in 
1856 or 1857. 

Sedgeley mansion, which was built by Mr. 
Crammond about 1800, has been destroyed. It 
was the first attempt to introduce the Gothic 
style of architecture in country houses. 

The present Sedgeley guard house was once 
the stable and offices of Sedgeley mansion. 



Southwest of the guard house stands an 
interesting association of the Civil War — 
General Grant's cottage. It was occupied by 
him at City Point as his headquarters during 
the campaign in Virginia in 1 864-1 865. 

Perhaps a no less interesting object in Sedge- 
ley is an earthwork, yet traceable, constructed 
during the Civil War, as a part of the system of 
defence for Philadelphia. 

Of the other historic places on the east side of 
the Schuylkill perhaps rtBount pleasant holds 
the greatest interest for us. It was for years 
the country seat of Captain Macpherson, one 
of the most noted men of Colonial days. 

During the Revolution he tired of his Mount 
Pleasant home and advertised it for sale. There 
was no acceptable offer for the estate until the 
spring of 1779 when General Benedict Arnold 
bought it for a wedding gift to his intended wife 
Miss Peggy Shippen. 

After Arnold's treason it was confiscated in 
1 78 1. From this date it had many proprietors 
until it was finally owned by General Jonathan 




I ^ 



Williams, the first Superintendent of West 
Point Military Academy, and was held by his 
family until purchased by the Park Commission 
in 1868. 

Among the many distinguished tenants of 
Mount Pleasant, it is supposed that Baron von 
Steuben was one, the veteran soldier who created 
the discipline of the American Army and con- 
verted the irregular bands of the colonies into the 
army of the Revolution. 

On the west side of the Schuylkill River the 
country mansions were no less attractive than on 
the east side. 

Opposite "The Hills" — a site selected as "a 
beautiful spot" — was "Zbe SolttuDe," the 
home of John Penn, the bachelor and poet. 
Early in the year of 1784 Mr. Penn made what 
he called "a dear purchase" of fifteen acres of 
land for which he paid six hundred pounds 
sterling. On this land he erected a house of 
which he writes: — "I named it from the Duke 
of Wurtemburg's The Solitude, a name vastly 
more characteristic of my place." 



Mr. Penn had pleasant neighbors in the good 
fellows of the Colony of Schuylkill. This was 
the first society of a social nature established in 
Philadelphia, its long and pleasant history goes 
back to 1732. In that year the Colony of the 
Schuylkill was established for fishing and sport- 
ing purposes upon the estate of William Warner, 
who appropriated an acre of ground to the use of 
the Society. 

The members of the Colony erected a Castle 
on the acre of ground and paid an annual rent 
of "three sun perch fish" — the first of the 
season. 

The fish were ceremoniously borne up the hill 
on a pewter plate, and as ceremoniously received 
by Baron Warner on the porch of his handsome 
mansion. 

When the Fairmount Dam rendered fishing in 
the River no longer a pleasant pastime, the 
Castle was removed to Rambo's Park near 
Gray's Ferry. 

The Solitude, Mr. Warner's estate, contain- 
ing his fine mansion, and the site of the Colony of 



Schuylkill have been absorbed by the Zoological 
Gardens. Mr. Perm's house "The Solitude" 
has been restored and is used by the officers of 
the Zoological Society. 

Like the third act in a drama so in the estates 
of Lansdowne and Belmont would seem to cul- 
minate the greatest historic interest and the 
most romantic t 
historic associa- 
tions and the 
beauties of nature 
vie with each 
other. 

Picturesque ra- 
vines and glens 
thread the land 
and lead towards 
the Schuylkill. 

^"hile Sweet 
Briar ravine, 
Lansdowne and 
Belmont ravines, 
and Belmont glen 



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of the Park. Here 




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Lansdowne Ravine 



are^names that bring to view the finest and 
most charming scenery in the Park. 

In 1773 the Honorable John Penn — cousin of 
John Penn of "The Solitude" — purchased 
about two hundred acres of land extending from 
Mr. Warner's estate on the south to Belmont on 
the north. 

On the site which tradition says is now oc- 
cupied by Horticultural Hall, Mr. Penn erected 
a handsome stone mansion in the Italian style 
of Architecture, to which he gave the name of 
XansDowne* Why he called the mansion and 
estate Lansdowne is not known, but it is con- 
jectured that it was for the first Earl of Shel- 
bourne, who at that time resided in Lansdowne 
Mansion, London, and who afterwards became 
the Marquis of Lansdowne. 

As Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in- 
Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania and the 
"Three Lower Counties" Mr. Penn observed 
lavish hospitality and maintained royal state on 
these grounds. 



John Adams, writing to Jefferson in 1775, 
says: — "Went to Lansdowne on Sunday, about 
half a mile from Judge Peters's where you once 
dined. The place is very retired, but very 
beautiful, a splendid house, grand walks, 
shrubberies and clumps of trees in the English 
style — on the banks of the Schuylkill." 

With Governor Penn ended the kingly repre- 
sentatives in Pennsylvania, and the last represen- 
tative in the Province of William Penn the 
Founder. 

Joseph Bonaparte was at one time a tenant of 
Lansdowne. He leased it in 1816 for one year, 
but lived there probably for two years. 

"The Hut" near the river road was built 
during William Bingham's residence at Lans- 
downe, some time after 1797, and was occupied 
by his son-in-law the Honorable Alexander 
Baring, who with his wife resided there during 
their sojourn in the United States. 

For many years the mansion was unoccupied 
and in 1854 was burned by accident — whilst 
some boys were celebrating the Fourth of July. 



About 1866 the Barings sold the property to a 
party of gentlemen in Philadelphia, who after- 
wards ceded it to the city and it was added to 
the Park, at which time the walls of the mansion 
were standing in good preservation, among the 
historic monuments of the Park, but they were 
torn down and all traces of the site obliterated. 
Belmont, situated north of Lansdowne, in- 
terprets its name 
in the surrounding 
scenery of green- 
sward, woodland 
and water, sun- 
light and shadow. 
The estate of 
about two hun- 
dred and twenty 
acres including 
Peters's Island in 
the Schuylkill was 
purchased by Wil- 
liam Peters from 
the widow of Dan- 
iel Jones in 1742. 



Belmont Ravine 




He built a small stone house " in a fine situa- 
tion," called it JBelmont and resided there 
until about the Revolution, when he assigned 
the use of the property to his son Richard — 
afterwards Judge Peters. Whether the large 
mansion on the north side of the original house 
was built by William Peters or his son, Judge 
Peters, is not known. 

During the thirty-nine years in which Richard 
Peters was Judge of the United District Court, 
Belmont was the resort of eminent men famous 
in history and politics. Washington, in his 
diary, makes frequent reference to his visits to 
Belmont. Foreign ambassadors and distin- 
guished travelers ever found Judge Peters a 
genial host. Chateaubriand, the French author 
and statesman, Kosciusko, the Polish patriot, 
and Dr. Joseph Priestly enjoyed his hospitality. 
Lafayette visited the veteran statesman in 1824 
at which time he planted the white walnut tree 
near the mansion. 

After the death of Judge Peters, Belmont 
remained in quiet possession of his family until 



its serenity was disturbed in 1832 by the railway 
from Philadelphia to Columbia. This route, 





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Belmont Mansion 



however, was abandoned after the Pennsylvania 
Railroad bought the Columbia Road. The 



next event in the history of Belmont was its in- 
corporation as a part of Fairmount Park in 1867 
— together with the adjoining estates of Lans- 
downe and Prospect Hill. 

We see that when Philadelphia extended no 
further west from the Delaware River than 
Fourth or Fifth Streets nor north than Vine 
Street, nor south than Pine, her eminent citizens 
sought suburban residences. 

As the stress of business and political life 
increases, the desire to enjoy the charm and the 
restful quiet of nature grows ; and thus it is that 
the Philadelphia of to-day is rapidly becoming a 
suburban city. 

Adjoining Fairmount Park, and West of 
Parkside Avenue, is a tract of land which origi- 
nally belonged to Judge Peters's estate, and 
became a part of the Park with Belmont in 1867. 
This piece of land was exchanged by the Park 
Commissioners in 1897 for land owned by 
Colonel Bennett. The exchange was made for 
the purpose of straightening the Park boundary, 
but to this day it is still thought by many to 
belong to the Park. 



No more attractive situation for suburban resi- 
dences could be found than this goodly site. 
The Park lies before it like a varied panorama, 
rich in the beauties of nature, in colonial as- 
sociations, and in historic interest. (See 
Belmont Heights Plan.) One sees also the 
beautiful hill, "a perpetual memorial of the 
honored Grantor's name," Jesse George, and 
at its foot still sings the little brook in memory 
of him and his sister Rebecca. (See George's 
Hill Plan.) 

/IfoOUltt Iprospect, too, is seen, not teem- 
ing with historic and legendary associations, as 
is the rest of the Park, but enthroned and sur- 
rounded by its nature-given beauties. And Tom 
Moore's Cottage! From the bountiful hos- 
pitality extended to him during his visit to the 
City of, perhaps, ten days, one wonders how it 
was possible there was left to him a day or an 
hour to spend in it ! Nevertheless whilst stand- 
ing on this beautiful site overlooking Fair- 
mount Park one feels keenly the spirit of the 
lines commemorating his sojourn at the cottage : 



" I knew by the smoke that so gracefully curled 
Above the green elms, that a cottage was near, 
And I said, if there's peace to be found in the 

world 
A heart that desires it might hope for it here." 

On this land stood the monument which gave 
its name to the road, and was for years the 
subject of interested conjecture as to the reason 
for its existence. This obelisk was erected, no 
doubt, to close the vista of the long, handsome 
avenue of hemlocks, which extended northwest 
from Belmont Mansion. 




The Speedway 



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Rabbit Club 



BELMONT PLAN 

From the properties on this plan may be seen 
Chamounix, the Speedway, Belmont Mansion 
and Ravine, Memorial Hall, Horticultural Hall, 
George's Hill, and in the distance, most of the 
historic mansions that remain in the East Park. 

The view from the plateau in front of Belmont 
is unexcelled in beautiful panoramic effects. 
Immediately west of the tract and adjoining it 



are the golf links of the Bala Golf Club, and also 
an old mansion surrounded by venerable trees, 
now occupied by the time-honored Rabbit Club, 
celebrated for its epicurean art, whose member- 
ship includes some of the best known men of the 
present generation. The Philadelphia Country 
Club with its attractive grounds and Club House 
may be reached within a few minutes. 

In this plan there are 10 lots, including 3 
corners, facing Fairmount Park, each from 100 
to 150 feet front, with a depth of 150 to 200 feet. 
These are unquestionably the finest sites for 
suburban residences within the city limits, 
combining the beauties of country life with all 
the advantages of the city, and fully protected 
by restrictions which will forever secure its 
exclusiveness. 

The remaining lots on the plan fronting on 




Philadelphia Country Club 



49th Street, Diamond Street, and Wynnefield 
Avenue are from 60 to 100 feet front, and 150 to 
200 feet in depth, all protected by the same 
restrictions. 

Four desirable residences constructed of stone 
are now being erected on the Wynnefield Avenue 
front, each containing 16 rooms, heated by hot 
water, gas and electric light, porcelain fixtures, 
hazel wood floors, and finished in Mahogany, 
Oak and other woods. 

Visitors are invited to inspect construction 
and will receive every attention. 



GEORGE'S HILL PLAN 

The property contained in this plan lies 
directly south of the Belmont tract and includes 
the same views, with the addition to the west, of 
Wynnefield, Overbrook and Bala. The lots 
are similar in size to those in the Belmont Plan, 
seven facing Fairmount Park, four on Wynne- 
field Avenue and twelve fronting on Diamond 
Street, all protected by the same restrictions as 
those on the Belmont Plan. Parkside Avenue, 
which separates the property from the Park, and 
Wynnefield Avenue, which divides the Belmont 
and George's Hill tracts, are each 100 feet in 




Wynnefiei.d Avenue 




ROCKLAND 



width. The sidewalks on Wynnefield Avenue 
are 30 feet wide, bordered with a double row of 
trees. Wynnefield Avenue connects Fairmount 
Park with Overbrook and the Main Line Towns. 



ELEVATION 

The property in both plans is of a uniform 
elevation, the average being about 230 feet. 
The height of curb at the corner of Parkside and 
Wynnefield Avenues is 232 feet. 



CI 



The following figures will show a comparison 
of elevation with familiar points in the city: 

Broad and Walnut Streets. . . 42 feet. 
" " Girard Avenue .. . 75 " 

" " Tioga Streets ... 95 " 
Sixty-third and Market 

Streets 82 " 

Thirty-third and Diamond 

Streets 113 

Wynnefield Avenue Station . . 185 " 
" and Bryn Mawr 

Avenues 178 " 

Overbrook Station 211 " 

Parkside and Wynnefield 

Avenues 232 " 



ACCESSIBILITY 

Both tracts may be reached by rail from 
Broad Street Station to Wynnefield Avenue on 
the Schuylkill Valley Branch of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad in twelve minutes, 40 trains daily. 
Cars of the Fairmount Park Transportation Co. 
from North Wynnefield (Belmont Heights), 
which is directly in front of the Belmont Plan, 
connect at Fifty-second Street and Parkside 
Avenue Station, also at Belmont and Parkside 



Avenue with the following lines of the Rapid 
Transit Co.: 

Fifty-second Street, 

Girard Avenue, 

Baring Street, 

Spring Garden Street, 

Arch Street, 

Lancaster Avenue, 

Overbrook, 

Lombard and South Streets, 




.*■ •-."-". 



Ormiston 




Near Chamounix 



by which Broad 
Street may be 
reached within 
thirty minutes. 

The following 
cars of the Phila- 
delphia Rapid 
Transit Co. con- 
nect at the Dau- 
phin Street en- 
trance to the 
Park with the 
cars of the Fair- 
mount Park 
Transportation 
Co. for North 
Wynnefield (Bel- 
mont Heights) : 



Ridge Avenue, 
Lehigh Avenue, 
York and Dauphin, 
Seventh, Ninth, and McKean, 
Seventh and Sansom, 
Fourth, Eighth and Pine Streets, 
Morris and Tasker, 
Front and Arch. 



Belmont Heights 



may be reached by auto- 
over all the Park drives, 
the world over for their 



mobile or carriage 
which are famous 
picturesque beauty. 

The Bridle Path for equestrians is familiar 
to all riders and is a delightful means of travel 
to and from the centre of the City. For the 
benefit of those not familiar with all of the 
Park drives we 
mention some of 
the roads which 
lead to the prop- 
erty and which 
may be easily lo- 
cated on map, at 
end of the book. 

ist. From the 
business section 
of the City by 
way of Broad 
Street, Spring 
Garden or Green 
Streets to the en- 
trance at Fair- 
mount; thence 
either by way of 
Lemon Hill, 




Cha.mounix Fails 



crossing Girard Avenue Bridge, following Lans- 
downe Drive, passing Penn's House, Sweet Briar, 
Memorial Hall and Centennial Lake, out Bel- 
mont Avenue to Wynnefield Avenue, thence to 
Parkside Avenue; or, 

2d. By way of the River Drive to Dairy Hill 




Randolph 



passing Mt. Pleasant, Rockland, Ormiston, 
Diamond Street entrance, Randolph, Woodford, 
Strawberry Mansion, crossing the Schuylkill 
on the trolley bridge, thence by the drive to 
the Speedway, along the return drive of the 



Speedway, from which the view is one long 
to be remembered, crossing Belmont Avenue 
to Wynnefield Avenue. 

3d. From Oxford Street entrance, or Dia- 




WOODFORD 



mond and Dauphin Street entrances, by Straw- 
berry Mansion, the trolley bridge and Speed- 
way as mentioned above. 



4th. From Tioga via Hunting Park Avenue, 
the River Drive, Strawberry Mansion, crossing 
the trolley bridge, to the Speedway, etc. 

5th. From West Philadelphia by Thirty- 
fourth Street bridge and drive between the 
Zoological Gardens and the Schuylkill to the 
Lansdowne Drive, etc. 

6th. From Fortieth Street by Memorial Hall 
and Belmont Avenue. 

7th. From Fifty-second Street via Belmont 
Avenue, or George's Hill, also by Parkside or 
Elm Avenue skirting the Park to the west of 
George's Hill and passing the grounds of the 
Children's Hospital to Wynnefield and Parkside 
Avenues. 

8th. From Germantown and Chestnut Hill 
by any of the drives leading to the famous 
Wissahickon, thence to City Line Bridge, out 
City Avenue to Belmont Avenue and thence 
to Parkside and Wynnefield Avenues. 

From the moment you enter the park on any 
of these drives until you reach this property 
the scenes are of never ending beauty and you 
reach your home exhilarated and refreshed 
ready to enjoy the pure air and beautiful sur- 
roundings of your home. 

By reference to plans it will be noted there 



are 17 residence sites fronting on Fairmount 
Park ranging from 85 feet to 150 feet front, on 
a street 100 feet in width. Forever assured of 
an unobstructed view of Fairmount Park these 
ideal locations will find ready purchasers. As 
an investment they will pay 100 per cent, in 
less than two years. 




ADVANTAGES 



Park location which must increase largely in 
value. 

Careful restrictions which will prevent anything 
objectionable. 

Air as pure as though you went miles into the 
country. 

Filtered water. 

Picturesque walks and drives in all directions. 

Residence in the city with advantages of mag- 
nificent scenery. 

Elevation 10 feet higher than George's Hill. 

Twelve minutes to Broad Street Station. 

Trolley cars every five minutes to all parts of 
the city. 

For further information apply to 

H. WINFIELD STEVENSON, Builder 

Parkside and Wynnefield Avenues 

J. ANDERSON ROSS 

2gi7 North Broad Street 

PHILIP H. JOHNSON 

1826 Land Title Building 



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BELMONT 
HEIGHTS 

17 LOTS 

Fronting 2000 feet on 

FAIRMOUNTPARK 
44 LOTS 

Fronting on Wynnefield 

Avenue, Diamond Street 

and 49th Street 



Elevation, 232 ft. above tidewater; 10 ft higher than 

George's HilL 
1300 acres of park opposite the property. 
Restrictions which prevent subdivision. 
Filtered Water. 40 Trains daily. 

Broad St Station in 12 minutes from Wynnefield Ave. Station 

Trolley Cars every five 

minutes. 
Park lots 85 to 150 ft. 

front 
Smallest lots 50 ft. front. 
Streets 100 ft. wide. 
Houses set back 50 ft. 
200 ft. house line to house 
line. 

IDEAL HOMES 

IN AN EXCLUSIVE 

LOCATION 



Apply to 

H. WINFIELD 
STEVENSON 

Parkside & Wynnefield 
Avenues 




Copyright, 1005, by J. Anderson Ross 




BELMONT PLAN. 



JUL 7'19° 5 



